Name: Kyoto Tower
Address: 721-1 Higashishiokōjichō, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, 600-8216, Japan
Telephone: 075-361-3215
Rating: 4.1

Tower with an observation deck offering binoculars & touch-screen guides, plus a food court.

Universal Studios Japan

Provided by Google

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Kyoto Tower opened to the public on December 28, 1964, just in time for the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

Opening Year

In its first year of operation, Kyoto Tower welcomed over 1 million visitors to its observation deck.

First Year Visitors

Designed to withstand both earthquakes and typhoons, Kyoto Tower can endure winds up to 201 mph (90 m/s).

Wind Resistance

The tower's design was inspired by a Japanese candle, with its white steel sheets resembling the wax.

Architectural Inspiration

Visitors can ascend to the observation deck using one of the tower's nine elevators.

Elevators

The observation deck offers a breathtaking 360-degree view of Kyoto, including the mountains of Higashiyama, Arashiyama, and Kitayama.

Panoramic Views

Kyoto Tower

Kyoto Tower, a stark contrast to the city's traditional skyline, rises not as a temple or shrine, but as a modern steel structure. Its design, often likened to a lighthouse illuminating the city, was intentionally chosen to symbolize Kyoto's welcoming spirit to visitors. Unusually, the tower stands atop a commercial building, rather than directly on the ground, a feature that distinguishes it from many other observation towers. The building below houses a hotel and various shops, creating a unique integrated complex. While offering panoramic views of Kyoto's ancient temples and gardens, the tower's construction was met with initial resistance from those who felt it clashed with the city's historical aesthetic. However, it has since become a recognized landmark, offering a modern counterpoint to the traditional architecture. The tower's color, a subtle off-white, was carefully selected to blend harmoniously with the surrounding cityscape, a detail often overlooked by casual observers.

Introduction

While Kyoto Tower is not specifically designed with advanced earthquake resistance technology like modern skyscrapers, its location and the architectural context of Kyoto provide an interesting perspective on earthquake resilience. Traditional Japanese architecture, particularly pagodas, has historically employed techniques to withstand seismic activity, such as central pillars that allow the building to move with the earth's tremors. Kyoto, being a city with a rich architectural history, reflects these principles in many of its older structures.

The construction of Kyoto Tower in 1964 marked a shift towards modern materials like steel, contrasting with the traditional wooden structures known for their flexibility. Although the tower itself doesn't incorporate traditional earthquake-resistant designs, its presence in Kyoto sparks debate about balancing modernity with the region's historical vulnerability to earthquakes. The tower's design and materials would need to adhere to Japan's strict building codes, which have evolved significantly since the 1981 standards that followed the 1995 Kobe earthquake. These codes emphasize retrofitting older buildings and incorporating innovations in seismic design. The ongoing efforts in Japan to improve earthquake resistance in everyday buildings, including homes and schools, highlight the broader context in which Kyoto Tower exists, even if the tower's primary design doesn't focus on these traditional methods.

Earthquake Resistance

Kyoto Tower's architectural design, conceived by modernist architect Mamoru Yamada with engineering advice from Makoto Tanahashi, aimed to withstand both earthquakes and typhoons, a critical consideration in Japan. Unlike many towers constructed with metal lattice frames, Kyoto Tower employs a monocoque structure, more typical in shipbuilding and aircraft design. This involves stacking steel rings, covered with lightweight steel sheets, welded, and painted white, to support its own weight without a steel frame.

Yamada, a founding member of the Secessionist Architecture Group, influenced by Viennese Secession, Bauhaus, and the Amsterdam School, sought to create a "new realm" in architecture. The tower's design reflects this ambition, contrasting with Kyoto's traditional aesthetic, sparking controversy due to its modern, needle-shaped spire.

The tower rises from a nine-story building, integrating commercial spaces and a hotel, topped by a circular restaurant. The observation deck, accessible by elevators, offers panoramic views of Kyoto, highlighting the city's grid-like layout. Despite initial opposition, the tower has become a recognized part of Kyoto's skyline, blending futurist elements with the ancient capital. Its design ensures it remains the city's tallest structure, a testament to its unique architectural approach.

Architectural Design

Kyoto Tower's construction in 1964 sparked considerable controversy, primarily due to its modern design clashing with Kyoto's traditional aesthetic. The tower's ¥380 million price tag added fuel to the opposition, with many feeling its needle-shaped spire was too modern for the ancient capital. Height restrictions in Kyoto further intensified the debate, as the tower's imposing presence disrupted the city's skyline of low machiya houses and ferroconcrete apartments.

Delayed public announcements about the tower's construction exacerbated the controversy, effectively preventing meaningful opposition. Despite the backlash, proponents argued that the tower would inject modernity into Kyoto and stimulate the local economy. While some, like Japanologist Alex Kerr, viewed the tower as a jarring intrusion, others welcomed it as a symbol of progress, ensuring Kyoto remained relevant in a rapidly modernizing Japan. Even today, opinions on Kyoto Tower remain divided, highlighting the ongoing tension between preserving tradition and embracing modernity in Kyoto's urban landscape. The tower stands as a physical embodiment of this debate, its sleek, white form a constant reminder of the clash between old and new.

Historical Controversy

Perched atop Kyoto Tower, the observation deck offers panoramic aerial views of Kyoto from 100 meters above ground, the highest point in the city. From this vantage point, visitors can witness a wide array of landmarks, including Toji Temple, Chion-In Temple, Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, and Sanjusangedo, as well as the Higashiyama and Arashiyama mountains. On clear days, the view extends beyond Kyoto to include glimpses of Osaka.

The observation deck is equipped with free-mounted binoculars for close-up views of the city's attractions and touchscreen information panels that provide insights into Kyoto's landmarks and how the city looks during different seasons. These panels also allow visitors to download additional information about the landmarks to their smartphones using QR codes.

From the observation deck, one can spot numerous World Heritage sites, famous shrines, and temples, including Toji and Kiyomizu-Dera Temple, as well as Hongwanji. The deck provides a 360-degree view of Japan's former capital, allowing visitors to appreciate the city's layout and the surrounding natural beauty. The observation deck is accessible by elevator and is open until 21:00, with the last admission at 20:30.

Kyoto Tower

Did You Know?

Opening Year

First Year Visitors

Wind Resistance

Architectural Inspiration

Highlights from Reviews

Location